Jolly roger pennant - protocol question

Nope, can't fault ye there me hearty!
Avast now, where can I gets me one o'they biggies to fly on special occasions instead of the red duster? (Jolly Roger I mean, not Duncan's much, much better, half!

(Without going to the cousins either - Roger)
 
Keep the smile on the kids faces, why not have fun?

I fly an un defaced Blue Ensign as I am a member of The Royal Naval Sailing Association. Our Burgee is Senior and flies at the stbd outer yard arm/spreader. A Courtesy flag is flown in board of that when we are abroad.

My Jolly Roger is flown at the port yard arm as and when required. Yes I have one aboard, and I fly it!

The history of the Jolly Roger is, it used to be the Battle Flag of the Knights Templars when at sea. It was 'hijacked' by Pirates as a mark of disrespect to the warrior monks, and therefore was lost to the 'Baddies'.

Tina is organising a Charity event again this year on the Solent, it's called,

"Pirates of the Solent"

(Tag below).




She found this site for pirate gear, BTW

http://www.pirateparty.co.uk/?gclid=CJfH_aOi24oCFUJGMAodvGI23A

and

http://www.deadmentellnotales.com/page/DM/CTGY/CH?gclid=COiJu8yi24oCFRJxMAodAz543Q

But when you Google 'buying pirate gear' you'll be amazed how many there are.

Have a great day out on the Solent, having fun and being either a Mount Gay Rum vessel, A pirate vessel, or a RN vessel!!


Al.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I fly an un defaced Blue Ensign as I am a member of The Royal Naval Sailing Association. Our Burgee is Senior and flies at the stbd outer yard arm/spreader. A Courtesy flag is flown in board of that when we are abroad.


[/ QUOTE ] Are you sure it shouldn't be RNSA burgee to Port (inferior spreader) and courtesy ensign to superior (starboard spreader) when abroad?
 
Now, I thought this when I visited Cherbourg for the first time.

Parked up next to a gorgeous ketch rigged yacht owned by a member of The Royal Yacht Squadron, and I was told in no uncertain terms that the RNSA burgee is Superior, and that the courtesy flag IS subordinate to it!! So change it!!!!
(Silly old Beggar I thought) But on checking, I found him to be correct!

I have dined out on this many a time since. Apparently it is in the Almanac also.

Al.
 
We also fly a Jolly Roger when the kids are on board, got soundly rollocked by French Customs in Boulogne a couple of years ago, "The black flag, take it down NOW!!"

They seemed very cross indeed, despite three kids playing pirates on deck.
 
... and i've seen Little Knot proudly flying his JR.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

We fly ours whenever we get the chance, while the kids are onboard, and make sure that they get as much chance to cause mischief in a Nancy and Peggy style as possible........ we look out for them at anchorages, and always use it as an excuse to get the kids teamed up....

So, definitely agree.... its the international symbol of kids onboard... and twice last year it led our kids to having fantastic days.....

In the early summer, we ended up with a dozen kids of 4 boats 'raiding' the beach in the Walton Backwaters for buried treasure..... and wow did they enjoy it....! and later in the year, they ended up spending a day crabbing on an island in the Veersermeer with three Dutch kids, who'd wandered over to see who wanted to play, because we were flying the JR....

Ignore the fuddy duddies who think its 'inappropriate'..... use it as a means to ensure that your kids enjoy the boat as much as you do...

In our case, just flown as the most inferior flag on board.....
 
When I'm the safety co-ordinating boat on open events, I always fly the Jolly Roger when some racing numb-nuts has been nicked by me and is going to be protested.

The last time I flew it was when two racing boats cut up a visiting Belgium warship in the Thames Fairway whilst he was doing 25knts.

I lowered my JR as the owners/helms were hung from the YC main mast - they lost the protest /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

All worked out well for all concerned although I believe the Thames Pilot is still in rehab!

Peter.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Ignore the fuddy duddies who think its 'inappropriate'

[/ QUOTE ] Where are these fuddy duddies? This thread seems to be unanimously supportive. However the original question asked whether there were any "Don'ts", and some of the answers have hinted at a little sensitivity to this practice on the other side of Le Manche.[ QUOTE ]
I would not fly one in French or Belgian territorial waters full stop

[/ QUOTE ] I am intrigued. Could this be an echo of the era when Brittania ruled the waves? First we duffed up the Dutch navy, then we (and the weather) finished off the French navy, then for 99 years we lorded it over the seven seas in a way that even the Americans wouldn't dare now.

So they perhaps see us a cocky little rule breakers that need to be cut down to size at any opportunity.
 
Ever since they were knee high to grass hoppers we've flown a skull and crossbones pennant, from an inferior position on the spreaders, whenever the kids have been on board. They are now 22 and 19 and still insist on running the sad tattered thing up on arrival at the boat.

We have never met with any grumbles or hassle over it, but there is always going to be one spoil sport somewhere I suppose.
 
[ QUOTE ]



Now, I thought this when I visited Cherbourg for the first time.

Parked up next to a gorgeous ketch rigged yacht owned by a member of The Royal Yacht Squadron, and I was told in no uncertain terms that the RNSA burgee is Superior, and that the courtesy flag IS subordinate to it!! So change it!!!!
(Silly old Beggar I thought) But on checking, I found him to be correct!

I have dined out on this many a time since. Apparently it is in the Almanac also.

Al.

[/ QUOTE ]Your post so provoked my thoughts that I have spoken to General Secretary of RNSA (I didn't mention your name!)

In the politest terms he suggested you might like to speak to him to be re-educated on flag etiquette.

When abroad, the RNSA burgee is moved the the inferior position on Port Spreader and the courtesy ensign is placed superior on Starboard Spreader.

Tim says the RYA booklet on flag etiquette explains all correctly.

Yet again the RYS doesn't know what its talking about. My favourite story is of them complaining that a Royal Marines high performance dinghy had an Asymetric cut as a White Ensign. It was part of a recruiting drive. They were told to get back in their box rather sharply or the matter of their permission to fly the white from the Secretary of State for Defence could be discussed.
 
[ QUOTE ]
.....member of The Royal Yacht Squadron, and I was told in no uncertain terms that the RNSA burgee is Superior, and that the courtesy flag IS subordinate to it!! So change it!!!!.....

[/ QUOTE ]
The RYS is not a recognised authority on flag etiquette and some of its members are as ignorant on the subject as many members of other yacht clubs.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Don't fly the jolly roger above a courtesy flag (which should be in the highest position on the starboard spreader).

[/ QUOTE ]
The Finnish coastguard asked me to remove my children's small Jolly Roger that was being flown just below the Aland courtesy flag at the starboard spreader! They didn't like having the Jolly Roger next to their flag even though it was underneath it. They said it had bad associations.

I told them that its association so far as I was concerned was "children on board".
 
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